FDA Chief Confirmed

The Senate on Monday confirmed Lester M. Crawford as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.

Lawmakers voted 78 to 16 in favor of the nomination. Crawford already has broad experience at the agency. He has served as acting commissioner for the last year, and he previously was deputy commissioner.

Crawford’s nomination had been put on hold for several months by lawmakers from both parties.

The Bush administration promised that their concerns would be addressed, in particular those about an emergency contraceptive pill called Plan B. The administration said the FDA would decide by Sept. 1 whether the pill could be sold without a prescription.